Volunteer Spotlight
We Want to Hear All About Your Volunteer Experience!
- Share with us how your experience inspired you to volunteer regularly
- Please, comment on the role BVU’s Volunteer Central played in helping you find this opportunity
"I was introduced to CityLit through a Board partnership program with my current employer, Laureate International Universities and the non-profit organization, Business Volunteers Unlimited (BVU). With my recent move to Baltimore and personal desire to volunteer and become a Board member, BVU showed me about a dozen profiles and CityLit was the profile that stood out for me. It was easy to be excited about CityLit Project. My life overall feels very aligned with CityLit Project’s mission. As a child, I was an avid reader read and wrote stories and poems to allow my creative side come through and create for myself a world with endless possibilities. As an adult, I guess not much has changed as I am still an avid reader and a closet writer. But now, I have an opportunity to perpetuate it. I love the idea of being part of an organization that not only supports the concept of cultivating reading and writing but encourages it. I am so excited to be a member of the Board."
Jodi Dickinson
"Volunteering has always played an important role in my life and through the years, I have enjoyed giving my time and talent to assist organizations fighting for worthy causes. However, it wasn't until I was introduced to BVU and BVU's Volunteer Central that I discovered how my engagement in the community can become more focused and meaningful. As a direct result of my engagement with BVU, I am now part of my employer's volunteer committee: M&T Bank's Community Council.
M&T's Community Council was developed to increase the level of employee volunteerism and provide support for employees to engage in projects that meet the M&T's commitment to invest in the communities we serve. Participating in the employee volunteer committee is a natural extension of what I do on a daily basis at work. As a Relationship Manager for M&T Bank's Business Banking Group, I have gained extensive knowledge of the community while working with business owners to meet their companies' financial needs and goals.
Serving in M&T's Community Council is truly an honor because it has allowed me to play an important role in shaping the community engagement initiatives of my employer and the volunteer engagement of my co-workers. Thanks to BVU, I have become a more active volunteer and this has made me appreciate even further the personal and professional benefits of volunteerism."
Bradley Hecht
"As first-time volunteers we didn’t know what to expect when a friend asked us to lead a carpentry workshop for employees of Enterprise Community Partners during their Community Service Day at Great Kids Farm on 9/11/2009. We knew we had to skills to teach others how to use power tools and to build structures out of wood; however, we were nervous because we had never officially volunteered our time to offer a workshop for such a large group of people. When the day started we were feeling excited; however, we were also feeling uneasy because we had to figure out how to work with power tools under the rain. However, when we all started to build the wooden boxes for the farm, we realized that all the volunteers were having fun and feeling energized despite the adverse weather conditions.
When we first agreed to participate in the volunteer event, we also had no idea we were going to be part of a national call to action issued by the president. Participating in the National Day of Service and Remembrance made the entire experience more significant to us. It made us realize that we can truly come together as a nation and unite for a common cause.
Thanks to BVU we realize that volunteering is a great way to meet new people and feel connected to the community. Participating in this Day of Service, allowed us to understand that giving back to the community is a tremendously rewarding experience. We will surely volunteer again and we will turn to BVU to help us find volunteer opportunities that meet our interests and the needs of the community. If not for BVU we would have no idea of the tremendous impact we can make by giving a few hours of our day."
Kevin Stern & Brian Hershfeld
"As an active volunteer during college I didn’t know where I would find volunteer opportunities after graduating. Luckily, soon after I graduated, I found BVU’s Volunteer Central. This wonderful community resource has allowed me to find opportunities that fulfill my interests and my desire to give back.
This summer, BVU put me in touch with a project very close to me, literally, at a playground that is maybe 10 blocks from where I live. Unfortunately the playground was lost last summer during a fire and this year community residents decided to launch a rebuilding effort. Through this opportunity, I practiced my construction skills, a personal hobby of mine, and I was able to give back while having lots of fun on a couple of sunny days.
Over the winter, The Salvation Army runs a project called Elf Night where generous donors sponsor gifts for local families in need. BVU plugged me into this fun project where I had the chance to help sort and organize toys, bikes, and other gifts bound for local families. I felt like a child again running around in a toy store trying to gather as many gifts for other children.
Thank you, BVU, for helping me to feel more committed and connected to my community."
Mike Sharma
"I was once asked by my little brother, "If you left this earth today, what would you have done to change someone's life?" That really inspired me to look beyond myself and think of others. Throughout the years, the Lord has blessed me tremendously in many areas of my life but what had I done to pass on those blessings? Soon after this conversation, I began to volunteer at local nursing homes as a “friendly visitor”. To see the joy that I brought to the residents just by sitting with them and having a conversation was a gift worth more than I could ever imagine. I soon became very involved with giving back to my community and those less fortunate then myself. Once I moved to Baltimore City, I wanted to find local volunteer and philanthropic opportunities. A friend recommended I look into Volunteer Central and so I attended Volunteer Café. Since the meet and greet, I have been able to use Volunteer Central’s website and Facebook group to find various volunteer opportunities. My most recent find was the BVU Classroom Campaign in which I was able to donate money to help a classroom of high school students purchase USB drives! There is no greater feeling then helping someone and passing on the blessings that you receive in your life. And with the help of Volunteer Central, making a difference never felt so good!"
Airielle Lee
"GIVE. This is a word that I have come to incorporate into my every day life. My friends, family and colleagues have grown to know me as GIVE. In the past, I’ve volunteered for the National Foundation for Teaching Education (NFTE), Towson University and the Priceless Gown Project (PGP), but it wasn’t until GIVE (Getting Involved in Volunteer Experiences), that I truly understood the meaning of a volunteer. In the summer of 2008, I was asked to sit in on a focus group that would help identify obstacles young professionals are faced with when finding volunteer opportunities and board placement. This was the beginning of an amazing journey. From that point forward, I’ve been actively serving as Chair of GIVE, a first year project under Business Volunteers Unlimited (BVU). We assist young professionals in finding non-profit opportunities through days of service, networking events and learning seminars. The purpose of GIVE is to place talented civic leaders in a non-profit they can give to for years to come, whether it’s through building houses, helping children or serving on a non-profit Board of Directors. I am extremely fortunate to have been presented with this opportunity as it has allowed me to meet with so many talented individuals and work closely with the brilliant staff at BVU."
Lisa Michocki
"As the Community Chair for Alpha Nu Omega Fraternity, Inc. (Greater Baltimore Alumni Chapter), I realized the importance of my position and task of finding meaningful and exciting ways for our members to give back on a monthly basis. I didn’t really know where to begin my search or who to ask for help, but thankfully, I came across Volunteer Central while at my job. I currently am an Assistant Residential Coordinator at MICA (Maryland Institute College of Art) and I heard about how there was a place that actually helped people in finding volunteer opportunities, so I called immediately and was so pleased with my experience. The Volunteer Coordinator was of great assistance to me, and even came to our first volunteer project that was with the Baltimore Free Store. The other members of the fraternity and I really had an amazing time helping those who are less fortunate find clothing items, recycled toys and even furniture all for free! Now, I always know where to turn when I need to find a great place to volunteer; BVU’s Volunteer Central is the best!"
Lonnie Woods, III
"As I first arrived to the city of Baltimore in the summer of 2006, I was eager to find a volunteer organization that would help enable me to serve the community. After actively working with several organizations I was referred to BVU. After researching BVU I was enlightened to the different opportunities available for community service in the Baltimore area. Events like the volunteer café, up-to-date newsletters and Make a Difference Day are just a few of the various opportunities I have been able to participate in. With so many diverse events scheduled on a day-to-day basis it is easy for anyone seeking opportunities to get involved. Since becoming involved with BVU I have been able to further expand my experience within the community service field and utilize my talents to assist residents in the community in which I call home. With that being said, I offer my sincerest thanks to BVU. Through my experience with this organization I am able to pursue my passion in philanthropy and better serve my community."
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